Check out the new build

Which monitor/resolution are you using?

Which games/programs will you use on this system?

Why aren't you considering Intel?
 
I have a 24" Gateway Monitor, I run at 19\12 res.

I primarily play AoC...just until Warhammer comes out of course, and SC2 and D3 down the road.

I'm not considering intel due to the fact that an unlocked multiplier seems like something that would really help with OC'ing especially when I wanted to go Quad-core for this gaming rig anyway. I've got an E8400 @ 3.8ghz right now, runs great....dunno really. Should I stick with the E8400?
 
for what your spending imo id go with a Core 2 Quad

mobo is about the same and i think a Q6600 may even be a bit less and OC a ton more

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299

that comes out a bit less and would be over all faster

also imo get a Corsair PSU the VX550 is great and doesnt cost that much more

and unlocked multi isnt that big of a deal when you can just run the bus at 400x9
and run the ram at 1:1

ninja edit

that E8400 will blow the doors off the AMD CPU in any thing that doesnt use all 4 cores
 
One HD 4870 by itself could handle AoC at that resolution... you don't need a full scale CrossFire build like the one you were planning.

There are other ways you could reduce the overall cost of the build without sacrificing quality.
  • Get the Corsair TX750 from Provantage instead of the Rosewill PSU you're considering.
  • Instead of buying four 1GB sticks of RAM, get a 2x2GB kit like the G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2 1000 kit. Having all four RAM slots filled would also limit how far you could overclock the processor (though YMMV).
  • A cheaper/better choice in a CPU cooler is the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 and its retention bracket.
  • You do not need those 80mm case fans -- the Antec Thirteen Hundred supports mainly 120/140mm fans. If you want more/better fans, get some Yate Loon low speed or medium speed 120mm fans. And I don't believe that the PCI slot cooler would be enough to cool down one HD4870 (let alone two), so it would be safe to omit that as well.
Additionally, the Q9450 would outperform any Phenom in the market today, both at stock speeds and overclocked. It's also possible, with proper cooling, to push the Q9450 to around/near 4GHZ; The Phenoms reportedly top off at around 3.1GHz. (An unlocked multiplier doesn't necessarily mean that the processor has a higher-than-average OC threshold.)
 
I would just upgrade the GPU and hold the CPU/Mainboard upgrade until the dust has settled after the price drops for Intel chips in the next few weeks.

Why are you considering upgrading from your E8400 anyways? Are you hitting a wall somewhere?
 
Thanks for all the input guys, its really appreciated. The main reason for this upgrade is...I purchased my comp from AVA Direct, and it works fine..nothing against them...but I realized that I can build it myself, I'd get a MUCH more powerful machine for cheaper. I'm selling current rig for 1800, paid about 2100 for it so..not a big deal
 
What does you current build looks like? Depending on the parts that you have, it may be easier to just upgrade a couple of parts instead of replacing the entire rig.
 
Current build is...

Tagan CS-EL Diablo Case
E8400 @ 4ghz
8GB g.skill ddr2
8800 Ultra
ASUS P5K-SE
250gb WD HDs in Raid 0, with a shitty pci raid controller

I'm primarily just unhappy with the video card...it runs very hot, I also do not like my mother board very much at all, and the case...eh so-so
 
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